Heart Association Endorses Heart-Healthy Beef

I recently read some fantastic news that I’m simply ecstatic to share with all of you today. The American Heart Association (AHA), with the assistance of the beef checkoff, has listed three beef cuts as part of its Food Certification Program. This program places the AHA’s heart-check mark on food packages to help consumers identify foods that meet heart-healthy criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol.

The three beef cuts that met the American Heart Association’s criteria for extra lean and now are certified to display the heart-check mark include: Boneless Top Sirloin Petite Roast (USDA Select grade), Top Sirloin Filet (Select grade), and Top Sirloin Kabob (Select grade). All three are tasty cuts of beef, and now our consumers can enjoy and appreciate with extra confidence the health benefits that have always been a benefit of eating lean beef.

According to the release, "The AHA's heart-check mark is the one of the most trusted icons on food packaging today – and it continues to resonate with health-conscious shoppers, even in a challenging economy. In fact, more than 83% of consumers have an aided awareness of the heart-check mark, and nearly 75% of primary grocery shoppers say the heart-check mark improves the likelihood that they'll buy a product. This certification allows retailers to display the heart-check mark on fresh case beef packages, promoting the health benefits of a serving of these particular beef cuts to their customers. This is good news, as many of the food industry's top brands have certified products. The mark has been shown to influence sales by as much as 5%."

To help spread the word, I have compiled a list of great recipes using these three cuts. I hope you will enjoy heart-healthy, lean beef throughout this week and every week. The possibilities are endless to cook up these three great cuts! Feel free to add your favorite recipes in the comments section below.

Finally, as many of you already know, I’m a proud member of the Team ZIP (zinc, iron and protein) running team. Pictured here is my sister Courtney and I before our half-marathon race last year. Running is a heart-healthy activity that allows me the opportunity to share my love of beef with athletes. I'm currently training for another half-marathon, and I invite you to sign up for a race and get moving. It's a great way to get in shape and promote America's favorite protein! To learn more about the program and how to get involved with it, read BEEF Editor Joe Roybal’s column, Amanda Nolz Zips For Beef